Ashley Orzel, News Editor

SAITSA elections are just around the corner. The Weal sat down with Martin Cruz, governance and compliance coordinator for SAITSA, and talked about the importance of getting involved in student government. The Executive Council is an opportunity to expand on leadership and advocacy through representation of the student body. The …

SAIT and SAITSA are coming together for the fourth annual Sexual Awareness Day to encourage safe sexual health on campus. “[The event is] taking away the stigma associated with sex,” said Shona Sutherland, communications coordinator for SAITSA. The day will include information and representatives from SAIT’s Student Development and Counselling …

ARIS explores women in male-dominated fields with indigenous focus Women of ARIS will be hosting a panel discussion in partnership with Chinook Lodge on Jan. 25 to hear from indigenous women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and trades, and the obstacles they’ve had to overcome based on …

Motorcycle community thrives in Calgary During a Calgary deep freeze, hundreds gathered at the BMO Centre for the 18th annual Motorcycle Show to prepare for the 2017 riding season. “I actually think the weather helped us this year,” said Seamus Toner, project coordinator for SAIT’s motorcycle safety and maintenance training …

Community rallies against redevelopment plans A land-use application to redevelop an area of Chinatown with high-rises is sparking debate on the future of one of Calgary’s most historic communities. “Chinatown’s been here for 100 years and was built up with blood, sweat and tears,” said Alice Lam, a member of …

No room for football in ACAC With all the enthusiasm surrounding the Dinos’ rise to the 52nd Vanier Cup, SAIT students are questioning why their school doesn’t have a football team to cheer for. A stadium full of fans covered in body paint, wearing ridiculous outfits, waving flags, chanting and …

For a third ski season, SAITSA is offering discounted lift tickets to students to help get them out to the mountains at an affordable rate. “It’s the most popular thing in our office at the moment,” said Emma Warren, assistant manager of student experience at SAITSA. “To go to the …

Tuition freeze and repayment plan announced The Alberta Government has announced that it will be extending the tuition freeze for post-secondary institutions until fall 2018. The tuition freeze, first announced by the NDP government in June 2015, was set to expire after the 2016-17 academic year. On Oct. 19, 2016, …

Alberta-made film selling out theatres on national tour Benjamin Ross Hayden, a 2012 graduate of SAIT’s Film program, is a rising star in the film industry. At 25-years-old, Hayden became the youngest person to join the Telefilm Micro-Budget Production Program in all roles, which helped launch his latest box office …

Government of Alberta announced $20.7 million investment The Government of Alberta announced a $20.7 million investment into upgrading SAIT’s John Ware and Senator Burns buildings, and constructing the Green Building Technologies Lab and Demonstrative Centre. “This once-in-a-generation investment by the Government of Canada is a historic down payment on the …

Celebrate 100 years with SAIT on Oct. 16 SAIT is celebrating its 100th birthday, and all current students and alumni are invited to the festivities. “Students are our VIPs,” said Cathy Downey, director of the Centennial Project. “We’re celebrating 100 years and remembering who’s first around here – our students.” …

Both the SAIT Trojans men’s and women’s soccer teams have started off the 2016 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season with a strong start as both teams find themselves with a 4-1 record. With this being the halfway point of the season, both look to continue their strong play heading …

The importance of getting involved in student politics to make a difference With the upcoming Board of Directors elections, SAITSA representatives say they hope students continue to get more involved in campus politics. “There is an emergence of more interaction with government within the younger generation, and I think that …

Students encouraged to vote in upcoming BOD election The Weal caught up with Rachel Paris, SAITSA’s governance and advocacy manager, to learn more about voting. The Weal: How do students vote in the upcoming Board of Directors (BOD) elections? Rachel Paris: SAITSA uses Votenet, an online voting system, to distribute …

Cost of living on SAIT residence in Calgary’s changing rental market The high cost of living on campus has been a common grievance amongst residents, says Hayley Babonau, a first-year travel and tourism student at SAIT. Babonau, originally from Grand Prairie, Alta., chose to live on campus because she didn’t …

Top 10 movies at the Calgary International Film festival This year’s Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) kicks off Sept. 21, and runs for 12 days showcasing 210 films from around the world. To help plan your festival, here’s a list of the 10 most anticipated films screenings during the 17th …

Students encouraged to run for new Board of Directors Nominations are coming up for the 2016-17 SAITSA Board of Directors (BOD), and SAITSA wants all interested students to apply. “The BOD ensures that SAITSA is being responsible and accountable to our members: the students,” says Rachel Paris, governance and advocacy …

Student Development and Counselling pilots wellness walks on campus Promoting mental wellness among students is something SAIT’s Student Development and Counselling plans to address through wellness walks. According to a study released by the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS), one in three post-secondary students report their …

SAITSA hoping to build inclusivity on campus for LGBT students As students begin to join clubs and meet like-minded individuals, they might notice one club missing on the roster – a club for gender diversity, or LGBT. “Being a trades school, we kind of have a reputation of not being …

SAIT provides students with valuable services for finding employment Students are being encouraged to connect with SAIT’s Student Employment and Career Centre during their first semester to help ensure they stand out from the crowd when they start job-hunting. “If I could go back in time, I would have gone …